d not joined, my senior officer, who
had five of his men wounded, ordered the boats to pull off. Shall I say I
was disappointed? I most assuredly was, and my boat's crew murmured. I
desired them to be silent. The boat which had lost her way now came up,
and received a broadside from the vessel we were retreating from, which
almost sank her, and killed and wounded four of her crew. The order was
again given to pull off as fast as possible. As the senior officer neared
me in his boat, I asked him, as we had found the large schooner so strong,
if it were not desirable to attempt the others. His answer was yes, were
they not so well armed and so close to each other. "But," said he, "it is
my orders that the boats repair on board their own ships, as my wounded
men are dying, and I am suffering the devil's own torments." "So much for
a broken-down expedition," thinks I to myself. "If the bull had not been
taken by the horns, something might have been effected."

On joining my ship I reported the wounded men, who were sent to their
hammocks, after having been dressed by the doctor, who declared their
wounds, though severe, not to be serious. "Well," said the captain, "what
have you done?" "Worse than nothing," replied I. "I never was on so sorry
or so badly planned an expedition. The enemy's armed vessels were on the
alert, whilst we were half asleep, and they were anchored so close under
the land that we were nearly on the broadside of the largest before we
perceived her, and she gave it us most handsomely, and I give her credit
for her spirited conduct." "You are a generous enemy," said my skipper.
"Not at all," returned I; "it is my opinion that the man who commands that
vessel, who has given us such a good trimming, deserves well of his
country." I then made him acquainted with all the particulars. "My opinion
of the officer who had the management of this boat affair has been
hitherto favourable," said the captain. "He is certainly a young man, but
his captain is perfectly satisfied with his method of carrying on the duty
in the ship." "Yes," said I; "but ship duty and boat duty are different."
Here the conversation, which was irksome to my feelings, terminated. A few
days floated away, when the first lieutenant had a dispute with the
captain, and he was suspended from his duty. I was sent for into the
cabin, when the captain told me he was happy in the opportunity of again
offering me the situation of first lieutenant. "For